Washington (CNN) - As the House gears up for a health care vote in the next 10 days, the top Republican in the House said he is confident Democrats "don't have the votes" right now to pass the reform bill.

"If they had the votes, then it would be law," said House Minority Leader John Boehner in an interview with CNN's Candy Crowley.

Democrats need 216 members of their 253 member caucus to vote in favor of the legislation, assuming no Republicans vote for it.

"They can pass this all on their own, the only bipartisanship involved in this town right now with regard to health care is there's bipartisan opposition to what they're attempting … If she had 216 votes, this bill would be long gone," Boehner said.
Watch Boehner's interview with Candy Crowley on CNN's "State of the Union" this Sunday at 9am ET.

soundoff(61 Responses)

LoveThyNeighbor

Why in the heck does "Agent Orange" and the rest of the Relics always insist on trying to beat down the Demo party and not try do do something good for us Americans themselves? Boy, if I had a job that was paid for in tax payers $$$, I would be working FOR them and NOT against them. Put some IDEAS on the table and quit wasting our time. Were are YOUR leadership ideas!? At least the demos ARE trying to do SOMETHING! Pity, you waste all of our time just to try to make it to the next election. I think your "party" is in for a real BIG surprise come November. Sit down and shut up until you get some good ideas and not just pointing fingers, placing blame and running with the "fear factor" WE ARE TIRED OF IT!!!...Sam

March 12, 2010 06:44 pm at 6:44 pm |

jules sand-perkins

If the socialists don't have the votes, let's HOPE the situation doesn't CHANGE.
Americans don't want Obama's health-care bill. He refuses to listen to the people.

March 12, 2010 06:48 pm at 6:48 pm |

Artemisios

If the bill is at all substantive, it will fail by one or two votes by arrangement of both parties. After all, you don't expect them to jeopardize their "campaign contributions," now do you?

March 12, 2010 06:49 pm at 6:49 pm |

Mike in MN

This bill won't bring down costs because it goes primarly after the insurance companies and does not address the fact that in the USA we pay the higest prices in the world for hospital care, physican fees and drugs.
We just got a copy of a the bill for my wifes vist to the doctor last week. She had a tingley feeling in her hands and was dizzy and it had lasted for a couple of days. So she went to see her doctor. They ran some testes and she was in the office for about 5 hours. The total bill was $1,963. We had to pay a deductible of 100 and our insurance paid the rest. That's $400 an hour at the doctor's office and the total bill is about 20% of our annual cost for insurance premiums for a 5 hour visit and some tests. Does not look like the insurance company is ripping me off. I have no idea if the $1,963 cost for the visit or test was a fair price or not. But considering between my wife, myself and out daughter we probable visit the doctor 6 to 8 times a year, I think we are getting a good value for what we pay for insurance.

March 12, 2010 06:52 pm at 6:52 pm |

Truth wins

Yeah, it is much better when a faceless insurance company lackey dictates to us what is covered and what they are denying because they want to make more profits on something as personal as health care.

March 12, 2010 06:54 pm at 6:54 pm |

Anthony

Nice tan... Wonder if he knows the sun is bad for your skin. But being he has socialized government run healthcare he must not be worried. DEMS: dont listen to them, pass the bill and then run on how these guy dont care about the uninsured and under insured. How they have taken the side of big business. There would be no need for government regulate this business if they would not have been so greedy for decades and have allowed people to die so they didnt lose profits. Point out how much money in donations they have taken to block this. Victory can be had in november running on this acheivement and thier obstructionism to it. Better then running on being ineffectual and not being able to govern.

March 12, 2010 06:57 pm at 6:57 pm |

Leon

He is right, it is Bi-partisan opposition to the Democrats Blunder.

March 12, 2010 06:57 pm at 6:57 pm |

I am the Great and Omnipotent Wizard of Rush and I Say . . .

Stop the 40 % rate hikes, stop the denials of coverage for preexisting, stop capping benefits. Tell the Party of No that the status quo is killing Americans.

TELL YOUR CONGRESSMAN TO VOTE TO PASS HEALTH CARE REFORM.

March 12, 2010 06:58 pm at 6:58 pm |

Brandon

Have this Orange Tan man get off the TV. He party of the Party of No. If the GOP wanted Health Care Reform they would have tackled it 8 or 6 years ago. They have no ideas, no plans, and want America to destroy itself by 2012, just so they can come to power.

March 12, 2010 06:58 pm at 6:58 pm |

republicans hate america

Fantastic! Hope it remains that way.....the last thing anyone in this country wants is a government dictating to us about something as personal as our own health. It will not be tolerated.

THATS RIGHT WE RATHER LET THE BILLIONAIRE CEO'S DO THAT

March 12, 2010 07:05 pm at 7:05 pm |

Kelly

Stallion!

NOTHING WILL CHANGE WILL YOUR CURRENT COVERAGE!!! All that will change is you'll have more choices.

Right now, your insurance company dictates your heath care!! Wake up!

March 12, 2010 07:06 pm at 7:06 pm |

ib

I hope not; I don't want my tax dollars paying for aboration which I don't believe in. A woman can choose to have one just don't use my dollars to have it.

March 12, 2010 07:07 pm at 7:07 pm |

Albo58

I go to work everyday and gladly pay my taxes so people like Boehner can vote against this inept administration's plans for massive/fraudulent/unConstitutional entitlement programs! Voting NO against bad ideas is a good thing, Dimwits!

March 12, 2010 07:14 pm at 7:14 pm |

JF

..I wish he and his party were LONG GONE ....

March 12, 2010 07:18 pm at 7:18 pm |

Texas Jack

HOORAH, HOORAH, HOORAH – This is from a used to be fifty year Democrat that now knows he got wise enough to leave the Devil's party.

March 12, 2010 07:19 pm at 7:19 pm |

Concerned Canadian

I don't get it. George Bush did not have as a big a majority as Obama and he did whatever he wanted to. What is wrong with the Democrats???

The only time the party's vote together is when ther's a WAR. That's the bottom line....

March 12, 2010 07:42 pm at 7:42 pm |

Chris in CA

The bill may not be perfect but its a start and I applaud the DEMS for finally having the guts to lay the foundation. If we don't change and keep the status quo then all you have to do is look at the condition Greece is in and you'll see where our mighty empire is headed.

Don't fall for the REPUB'S dinner bell of fear. Don't forget why the DEMS won in a landslide last election. Don't forget, when you look at the faces of the REPUBS and all you see are old white men and when you look at the faces of the DEMS you see what our country is really made up of.

March 12, 2010 07:46 pm at 7:46 pm |

JohnRJ08

The idea that this dope was actually elected to the Senate is a terrible commentary on the intelligence of voters in this country. The man is an empty suit. These pathetic announcements are the only thing he ever does.

March 12, 2010 07:46 pm at 7:46 pm |

ED FL

The last thing americans need is advice by one of the two least impressive sissies in DC. Boner and Cantor are the sorriest specimensof manhood the country has seen in a long time.i wonder if they share the same tanning tubwith Boner taking more than his share of Rays. It won't be long before they have to exhibit their racist biases when they throw out Steele. It must be killing them to have a Minority in a leadership position that rivals theirs.

March 12, 2010 07:50 pm at 7:50 pm |

j

I wouldn't bet on it not passing. I'm not happy with the Senate bill but for the opposite reason the Republicans don't like it. I think there has been a very vocal minority that's shouting out the majority of those would benefit from health care reform. I don't think the current bill goes far enough. Quite frankly, I'm ready for socialized medicine... bring it on in spades!!

March 12, 2010 08:08 pm at 8:08 pm |

ELI

Good job John keep fighting for the majority of Americans who oppose this special interest bill. The train is leaving in November and what they don't realize is that the neocons and constitution hating liberals are the one that will be leaving town. LIBERALS ARE SO PATHETIC, BUT IT IS A DISEASE.

March 12, 2010 08:10 pm at 8:10 pm |

JR

You tell us about bipartisanship Boner, especially after your 402 to 1 vote for a probe into Massa.

March 12, 2010 08:13 pm at 8:13 pm |

once upon a horse

sure seems that the Republicans are worried about something that will not happen.....if folks don't want better health care then if it passes then let them stay out of it. Like Medicare it might not go over well at first then.........